NCAA Basketball Prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers vs South Florida Bulls

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

by Mike Stewart

Tray Woodall - NCAA Basketball Prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers vs South Florida Bulls

Pittsburgh Panthers has been a much different team with junior guard Tray Woodall healthy. Woodall was named Big East and National Player of the week after the Panthers won their third and fourth straight. With Woodall out injured or playing a diminished role, Pittsburgh is 5-8. The Panthers are third in the Big East in field-goal shooting and first in rebounding margin, while South Florida Bulls is second in scoring defense and has outrebounded eight of 10 Big East opponents. The Bulls have won four of six, but are coming off a 75-45 loss at Georgetown. Pittsburgh has beaten USF in five of the last six meetings.

- Pittsburgh Panthers @ South Florida Bulls
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
TV: ET, ESPN3.com

The Panthers have opened as 1.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.

Pittsburgh Panthers (15-9): Woodall has scored 24 and 29 points the last two games. The entire team has shot much better from the field and behind the 3-point arc the last four contests. Woodall is 10 for 18 from 3-point range during the win streak. Guard Ashton Gibbs, averaging a team-high 16.8 points, is shooting 51.1 percent from the field in the same span. Forward Nasir Robinson was 13 for 13 from the field in wins over West Virginia and Georgetown in late January. Robinson also leads the team in rebounding and shoots 60.1 percent from the field.

South Florida Bulls (13-10): South Florida has been a good defensive team all season, but has allowed 67, 75 and 78 points the last three games – two of them losses. Georgetown shot 65.2 percent from the field against the Bulls in the second half Saturday. Augustus Gilchrist is the only player averaging in double figures, with 11.0 points. Jawanza Poland is just 2 for 17 from the field the last three games, including1 of 9 from 3-point range. Toarlyn Fitzpatrick leads the team in rebounding and three-point shooting.

NCAA Basketball Betting

1. South Florida is 11-1 at home, 4-1 at home in Big East play.

2. Pittsburgh needs a strong finish to extend its Big East-best streak of 10 straight NCAA tournament bids.

3. South Florida is 12-2 when it commits fewer than 15 turnovers in a game.

Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook

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ashton gibbs - augustus gilchrist - jawanza poland - nasir robinson - pittsburgh panthers - south florida bulls - tampa bay times forum - toarlyn fitzpatrick - tray woodall